FWCS graduation rate increases, remains higher than state average

The graduation rates increased at each of the six Fort Wayne Community Schools high schools for the class of 2009. For the second straight year, the district average was higher than the state average.
In 2009, FWCS' graduation rate was 83.2 percent, nearly 3 percentage points higher than the state average of 81.5 percent. In 2008, the graduation rate for FWCS was 78.9 percent.
It is a significant achievement for an urban school district to be above the state average for two years, Superintendent Dr. Wendy Robinson said. Our staffs have worked hard to make sure our students are successful, but our work isn't done yet. We made great strides in seeing our students through to graduation, but that is just the first step to making sure they are successful in life.
Each high school saw a higher percentage of students graduate with increases over 2008 rates ranging from 1.5 percentage points to 7 percentage points.
School 2008 Grad Rate 2009 Grad Rate Change
Elmhurst 79% 84.1% +5.1%
North Side 68% 75.3% +7.3%
Northrop 85.6% 90.3% +4.7%
Snider 88% 90% +2%
South Side 70.4% 75.1% +4.7%
Wayne 76.8% 78.3% +1.5%
These numbers show that what we are doing through our High School Reinvent process is paying off, Dr. Robinson said. The class of 2009 showed us that when we focus on building relationships with students and making sure their coursework is rigorous and relevant to life after high school, we can help our student achieve success. As these programs get stronger and we implement additional changes with the support of the Race to the Top initiative, we expect our students will make even greater strides toward excellence.

With nearly 30,000 students, Fort Wayne Community Schools is one of the largest school districts in Indiana. FWCS proudly allows families to choose any of its 50 schools through its successful school-choice program creating diversity in each school, including some with more than 75 languages spoken. FWCS offers seven magnet schools focusing on areas such as science and math, communication, fine arts or Montessori at the elementary and middle school level. In high school, students can choose from the prestigious International Baccalaureate program, Project Lead the Way or New Tech Academy as well as other rigorous academic and specialty training programs.